+++++++++++++++++++++++++SPNSPNSPN++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Do you feel you have adjusted to your father's death?" Victor tapped his pen on the side of his pad.
Dean shrugged one shoulder. Unconsciously he grabbed and seated a cushion on his lap. Years ago, after their disastrous reunion and confrontation in Sam's kitchen, Dean had worked hard with Victor to mentally leave John behind. The news, when it came from Minnesota a month ago, had been a shock. There'd been parts of Dean that mourned the few rose-tinted memories of Lawrence with both his parents, and that wondered if his father had lived into old age whether a reconciliation of sorts might have been possible. However the greater part of his whole felt relief and the dispelling of a distant threat.
"Do you regret not travelling to Windom?" Victor tried again.
Dean's nostrils flared. They had gone through this whole rigmarole last week and the week before. Dean had answered these questions already. They'd talked of doors closing and twists of life's journey, but his psychiatrist was like a dog with a bone. What did Victor want? Sobbing? Dean had shed enough tears back in Arkansas to float a boat. Sam had gone to Cottonwood County Jail, obliged as next of kin, after John had dropped from a massive heart attack. Head first into a plate of spaghetti prison chow, which Dean was sure he'd eventually see the funny side of. Sam wouldn't let Nick and Lola go with him. Kate had offered him a bed in her home. Adam had attended the internment, insisting it was to support Sam. The only other mourners were the Chaplin and Brady, who drove seven hours overnight from Chicago to be there for his friend.
"So no regrets?" Victor probed.
Dean looked up. Sighing, he dug deep inside for some sort of answer. He licked his lips.
"Plenty of freaking regrets... you know 'em all… lined up in all those years of notes you've got on me." Dean inhaled and exhaled. It wasn't Victor's fault that John Winchester had been an A-grade asshole. "You want this year's sorrow? It isn't not commemorating the life of a man who should have cherished his little boy. Jesus, Victor I was Robbie's age."
Dean shook his head dismiss John and to refocus. "I'll tell you what's worthy of regret. It's missing the first month of your babies' lives. All those moments and I'll never ever get them back."
Dean inhaled and held his breath, pushing back the tears that threatened to fall, not for his deceased father, but for Fiona and Jude, for all the pain that Castiel had gone through, all the weight that had fallen on his husband's shoulders.
"You know, Dean, that a few weeks is not a long time…"
"I know," Dean interrupted to recite back some of the points they had previously discussed, "if I was a Dad in the service, worked away from home, had freaking been physically ill then I coulda missed early weeks of their lives. And I know too, that I spent weeks raising Sammy while Dad disappeared, not that I'd take John as a role model if it came with a state lottery win."
"There is no difference between physically ill and mentally unwell." Victor said patiently.
"Tell that to our neighbors and the busybodies in the grocery store with their sympathetic smiles and their enquiries about my family's health." Dean groused.
"People's concerns reflect well on you and your husband's status in the town."
"Nosey parkers." Dean moaned but he recognized the truth in Victor's argument. There might have been a few gossip seekers but most enquiries had been genuine, coming from people they knew through the high school, art group, daycare, frequenting Jesse's Forever, The Bluebell Café, and the local open secret beach spot at The Cove.
"How are you coping in public? Did you schedule your grocery shop at a busier time as per my request?"
Back in March when Dean had come home, his words had been sparse and few for Cas and Robbie, tiny whispers to his twin babies, but a wall prevented speech in public or with those outside his inner circle. It was like he was a child or a teenager again and it frustrated Dean so much that after their sessions Victor had let him use a punching bag in Stanford Medical Center's gym. It hadn't just been speech. Trembling slithering nerves snaked down his arms and through his body in public. Dean knew his neighbors were being sympathetic when they asked after his health or his family, but the sadness in their eyes felt like judgment, and he fought against the part of him that wanted a quiet room or a blanket fort. The intensive four week out-patient program, in which Dr Cartwright had enrolled him, had helped, especially speaking with those at the Post Partum Wellness group.
"Uh-huh. Went through the manned checkout and made nice with the dippy chick operating it. But I'm sorry Victor, taking two babies to Costco is a military operation, not improved by having to queue for the baby changing restroom."
Victor gave a chuffing laugh. "I apologize, Dean. Perhaps this week if weather permits, you might take your dear little ones to the park and engage in conversation there."
Dean wrinkled his nose, "We don't really have a park in Bodega. The twins are three months on Saturday. We are going to Sam's for a BBQ tomorrow. Does socializing there count?"
"So long as you keep up with your regular walks during the week. The summer is here. It's not good to be cooped up in the house."
Dean looked down at his cuffs, "That was at the beginning, when I came home, and I couldn't then," He gulped, moistening his lips, he thought of something more positive to tell his shrink, "I did a bit of organizing for Benny this week."
Victor beamed, "In Jenner?"
"Naw, Benny called to see us. I think he was avoiding his office," Dean chuckled at the recollection of Benny explaining that he thought he had managed somehow to delete his air-miles, until Dean logged in on Castiel's laptop and found them. "I volunteered to bring his diary back from the brink of chaos. I'm gonna do a couple of hours a week from home."
"What about the art show?"
Dean folded his arms and threw back, "What about it?"
"Are you going to help out there?"
"Listen. I don't like the fricking meat market opening ceremony when I'm participating. Not having to parade myself this year is actually one of the upsides of the whole FUBAR." Dean raised a hand, "Wait, before you make it one of your 'weekly suggestions'. Alfie's not manning the hall so much himself this year because of Abigail. So I told him if he needs an extra body on his roster, I'll take a couple of hours later in the week."
"Our time is almost up. Do you have anything you'd like to add Dean?"
Dean scratched his inner arm, just where the pale tendrils of the old scar tissue peeked out above his cuffs. "I'm glad Jude'll never have to meet Dad."
Victor waited during Dean's pause.
"I'm gonna do my damnedest to make sure my son will grow up proud to be a carrier, not thinking it's freakish, never being abused for it like I was, or living in fear and secret like Sammy."
"I believe you."
"Good, 'cause I'm deadly." Dean affirmed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++SPNSPNSPN+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There was no nicer way to wake up than with Castiel's lips grazing Dean's skin, the back of his fingers stroking his cheekbone.
"Good morning Dean."
Making a comfort noise at the back of his throat and stretching out his neck, Dean opened his eyes to see Castiel beside their bed, already wearing his dark suit.
"Mmm, did I oversleep?" Dean muttered, blinking awake to a sunny morning.
"No such thing when you got up for their night feed." Castiel said, turning away to pick his watch off the dresser and put it on. "They woke at 6.30 like clockwork. Robbie came in and rocked Fee back to sleep after her feed, while I gave Jude his bottle."
"So the whole family was up before me," Dean grinned, pulling himself up and then out of the bed. He checked his phone. It was almost time for Castiel to leave. "…and breakfasted?"
Castiel chuffed a laugh, "There's bacon and scrambled eggs in the skillet for you. Robbie supervised that too."
"He's gonna be a chef, I tell ya," Dean thought of how interested Robbie was in everything that went on at the stove.
"Good idea," Castiel commented, "He could keep you in pie into your dotage."
"Come here," Dean ordered.
Castiel stepped closer, standing still as Dean reached to do up the top button of his white shirt. Dean smiled widely as he tightened and straightened his husband's dark blue tie, "I know you'll rip it loose without a thought later, but setting off for work you look mighty fine, Mr. Teacher."
Castiel leaned from the waist to kiss Dean's jaw, "As so you, my love."
Dean harrumphed, casting a hand down his sleep tee and shorts, and his unwashed body. He raised a brow.
"You do." Castiel insisted. "Robbie's in the kitchen diner. He's got some sort of Lego-spaceman-dragon that he says will kill Peppa Pig when she comes on screen."
"Good God." Dean huffed, "Save us from imaginative interaction with preschool TV. Although Robbie is right. That Peppa is horrible to her little brother."
"Do you want me to pick up a pie from the café on my way back?"
It was Memorial Day weekend. Bodega High was on a minimum day. Castiel would be back by lunchtime and Robbie was staying at home. Dean was planning to have everything ready so they wouldn't be too late getting to Sam's for the BBQ.
"Nah, Cas. I'd like to take my morning walk all the same. I think it's good for Jude and Fee to have a routine." Dean didn't mention that he liked the routine too. Once the morning chores were done, weather permitting, Dean took the twins and Robbie, if he wasn't at the crèche, for a long stroll along the waterfront, either out along the peninsula or into the town.
Robbie would be delighted to come on their walk. Dean recognized that Robbie was clingier since he had gotten out of hospital. He hoped it was partially due to the normal older sibling adjustment to having a younger brother and sister in his life, but he suspected that Robbie had been scared by his Daddy's prolonged hospital stay. Over the last couple of months as Dean clawed his way back from his setback, he'd been mindful of his darling boy and hoped that when Robbie looked back at this time in his life that the memories would be more filled with quiet joy and love, than with the trauma he must have gone through. Castiel was great with him. Dean knew he was blessed to have Castiel, but life hadn't been simple for him either. Although Dean liked to grouse and tease about hippy hand holding when Cas disappeared every Tuesday evening for two hours, he knew his husband was benefiting from his support group in Santa Rosa.
Simple things became special things in the weeks after Dean's return home; Castiel's thick sliced sandwiches, reading bedtime stories to Robbie, Pawpaw's notes of support, Sam's refusal to trim his floppy hair, napping on the sofa with two tiny children...
The morning flew by. Dean ducked in for a quick shower after his husband left for work. He enjoyed his reheated breakfast with a strong java brew, while Robbie sat on the bean bag in between his two younger siblings, who were awake in their bouncy chairs. Dean had choke back laughter several times as Robbie provided a running commentary on Sesame Street to his infant audience. Once Robbie was dressed, in his current favorite blue and white striped tee and pull up jeans, Dean topped up his cross body baby bag with a few essentials, got out the double stroller, and the Winchester crew were ready for their morning walk.
Dean waved at Celestine from the sidewalk. Their previous landlady was adjusting her store's display of hanging baskets. She responded with a huge wave and blown kisses to Robbie, who ducked his head behind Dean's leg to peep at their family friend. At the pedestrian lights opposite Pamela's bar, Dean's phone pinged for a text. With a warning to Robbie, not to move, even if the light turned green, Dean pulled his cell out of his pocket. Expecting a reminder to buy dessert from Cas, he was surprised to see it was a message from Benny, asking if he was at home. A flurry of texts later it was arranged that Dean was meeting his boss in five minutes at the Bluebell Café.
Dean and the kids beat Benny to their rendezvous. It was warm enough to snag one of the outdoor tables. Carmen came out and assisted the sneaking of the canvas barrier a couple of feet in front of the next door property so that Dean could have the stroller and Robbie's chair tucked into the corner.
"Hey Dean," Benny called as he approached, "Looking good. How are my favorite small people?"
"Benny!" Robbie hopped up and ran to wrap his arms around the older man's thigh.
Dean joked, "Someone's happy to see ya."
"More than one person, I hope, Sugar." Benny said. He took Robbie's hand to guide him back to his seat, stopping to clap Dean on the shoulder, and to look in on the little ones. Plunking down on the free seat opposite, Benny removed his cap and asked, "What are we having this morning?"
"Smoothies," Robbie cheered.
Almost simultaneously Dean explained that they had just arrived. "You had breakfast?"
Benny nodded, "Early. Took a trip over to Salmon Creek. Wanna talk to you about that, but first let's order."
Robbie got the Sunrise, strawberry and banana, but not the supersized version that he claimed he could drink. Dean ordered a double shot latte with a single slice of pecan pie. Benny gave an indulgent headshake, knowing Dean's inability to refuse a slice of heaven, before ordering Huevos rancheros with sour dough toast.
That signalled Dean's turn to eye roll. "Thought you had eaten."
"Hey, I'm a growing boy." Benny chortled, patting his belly.
"You're as bad as Sammy." Dean joshed. "Bottomless pits for stomachs."
"Says the guy who ordered pie."
"Hey, I've three under five. I burn it off." Dean rejoined.
When Carmen came with their order, Dean asked what freshly baked treats they had available for takeout that day. He was tempted by the apple and cinnamon and the cherry pies, but Lola didn't like cinnamon and there was Kirsch in the cherry pie. Carmen brought an alternative out for Dean to view. The white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake looked amazing with curls of the chocolate across the top and swirl pattern of the raspberry. If he hadn't a slice of pecan pie in front of him, Dean might have been tempted to taste the dessert before she boxed it up.
"There was no appointment in Salmon Creek in your mess of a diary." Dean commented with a wave of his fork.
The sound of Robbie slurping through his straw broke the few moments silence before Benny answered.
"I bought the old boathouse as you come off the highway." Benny said casually.
"You what now?" Dean squinted. "You moving your boat from Bodega?"
"Nope." With twinkling eyes, Benny leaned forward, "Gonna turn it into a gallery, thought I'd display my interpretive pieces, maybe a few of my wood carvings, already got some of the other artists who use Goldie Epstein's framing service lining up for gallery space. Clamoring won't do them any good 'cos I got a section reserved for you, brother."
Dean opened and closed his mouth like a beached fish.
Benny smirked, "You know it."
"I…" Words failed Dean, but not from any dire reason. He was astounded.
"Thought when you are ready to come back to work, you might like to be involved in the running of the venture," Benny raised his hand, "No pressure. Not asking you to rush back, but I'd like it if you'd help me choose the first artists to join us in exhibiting. And I won't listen to any downplaying of your talent, or talk of your stuff not being good enough. You can shut your pie hole back up if that's all you're gonna say."
With a splurt of laughter, Dean slapped his knee, "Benny, you sonuva….sailor," He stopped himself with a quick glance at Robbie who was taking in every word. Still chuckling he continued, "I don't think anyone else would tell me to shut up. You are priceless."
"Yeah?" Benny scratched his stubble, "Well, I don't wanna hear any trash talk."
"No sir." Dean gave a relaxed salute with his pointer finger from his eyebrow.
"And I want at least eight paintings, a rake of sketches, and a selection we can print as postcards."
Dean snorted, "You don't ask much, do ya?"
"I have faith in you, Dean." Benny toasted him with his cup of Joe.
"OK." Dean expelled a breath.
"OK? You'll do it?"
"Hell yeah," Dean shook his head, "We'll make it the best damn independent gallery in Sonoma County."
"That's the spirit, Sugar. They'll be lining up to visit. I'll have Andrea on the phone looking to open a Light Up Your Beans on the premises."
Dean cleared his throat, "Ah, Boss, you know it's a boathouse in Salmon Creek you've purchased, not a warehouse on the pier in San Fran?"
Benny threw his head back and laughed. Once he'd recovered he asked, "What about you and Cas? You thinking of rebooting your property hunt?"
Dean nodded with his mouth full of pie.
"We's buying our own house, so Pops can have bees and puppies and kittens and chicks and pigs and all." Robbie informed Benny with a deadly serious face.
Benny raised his brows at Dean. "Sounds like a farm to me."
"Shoreline's outta our budget," Dean explained. Property prices were exorbitant within shouting distance of the ocean, "even with Sam and Nick's outrageous wedding gift, our loan approval, and having an awesome boss who ensured all my medical bills were covered."
Benny ducked his head at Dean's gratitude.
Hitching breaths in preparation of crying came from the closer side of the stroller. Dean paused to take a clean binky out of his bag. Jude had thrown his onto the pavement. Robbie took it from his Daddy's hand. He jumped off his seat to bend down and offer it to his brother.
"Good boy, Robbie. You are a great help." Dean smiled. He turned back to Benny, "We want something within spitting distance of Bodega, y'know, Cas and I don't want to be long distance commuters. I'm happy to go for a rural home. Castiel's convinced me that our own honey and eggs would be awesome, but I'm putting my foot down about a pig. No way are we raising a porky-pet only to traumatize the kids Clarice Starling and her lamb style."
"Don't think your husband's gonna make a farmer out of you."
"He'll be lucky to get his bees, and he knows it." Dean pursed his lips with the firm pronouncement.
Benny nodded, "I hear ya."
Then while Dean's back was turned, checking on the twins, Benny paid their check. Dean attempted to shove twenty dollars for the cheesecake into Benny's jacket pocket but Benny dodged his move. As they bade each other farewell, Benny suggested they should try inland from Jenner for their new house, saying that the Russian River area was a great place to live, but not as exclusive as the coastline.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++SPNSPNSPN+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sweeping through the gates at Moss Beach, Dean was blessedly able to answer Robbie's "Are we there yet?" with confirmation. It had been a couple of weeks since they'd headed south as a family and Robbie was vibrating with excitement to see Lola.
As they exited the Impala, the loud beat of "I've Gotta Feeling" accompanied by Lola screaming the chorus could be heard coming from the terrace.
"Guess we might have beaten Sam and Nick home." Castiel smirked.
Despite the evidence of Nick's new Mercedes under the carport, Dean nodded his agreement. Gadreel appeared round the side of the house. On his shoulders waving her arms in time with her current favorite song was Lola, still in her St Bede's School pinafore. Gadreel's words of greeting were lost under the loud music and Lola's call to them.
"Uncle Dean!" She squealed at supersonic levels, "Did you bring the babies?"
"Hi Gadreel. Hey Lolls." Dean grinned as he opened the back door for Robbie. "We all came."
"Good 'cos we made family pictures in school today. I drew everyone." Lola announced, proud of her kindergarten art pieces which decorated every surface of their double door fridge. Dean couldn't fault his brother for displaying Lola's colorful drawings. Castiel had covered their own kitchen with an eclectic arrangement of art by Robbie and Dean.
Gadreel carefully lowered his charge to ground level. With wave at Castiel, she beckoned Robbie to follow her indoors.
"Can I, Daddy?" Robbie said pulling on the hem of his blue striped tee. "D'ya want help with Fee and Jude?"
"Go ahead. Pops and I've got it covered." While Dean admired his older son's innate sense of responsibility and family, he was determined that Robbie should have plenty of chances to play and enjoy his childhood.
"Sam has left Stanford. He's picking Nick up at the restaurant. They should be here soon." Gadreel informed them. "Sam was delayed. He hoped they'd make it back before you arrived."
The parasol was out on the decking in consideration of tiny babies. Castiel made quick work of erecting the twins' baby beach tent too. They sucked on their binkies contentedly while Dean settled their seats under the shade, adjusting their sleep suits and cotton sun hats to make sure they were comfortable.
"Here!" Lola came flying back out through the French windows waving her picture. Robbie followed, head down playing Lola's DS.
"Robert." Castiel called.
The young boy's head shot up with the use of his full name.
"We have come for a BBQ at the beach." Castiel reminded, "Not to play video games. You too Lola, no disappearing indoors to use the Wii."
"Unless we play Guitar Hero: Legends of Rock later." Dean added ruining Castiel's admonishment and earning a fond glare from his husband.
"Oh God, Metallica on repeat," Gadreel sighed dramatically, "Until Sam shoves him off and we get Muse on repeat instead."
"Hey!" Dean objected, "Didn't we have to forcibly remove you from Sabotage so Castiel could give a try at Paint It Black?"
Gadreel looked down his nose with a poker face and denied everything, "Must have been Lola's other bodyguard."
"I don't have another bodyguard." Lola squinted. "Adults are weird, Robbie."
"Uh-huh." Robbie nodded concentrating on the DS.
"Show us your picture." Dean asked.
His five year old niece happily displayed the multicolored figures. There was a yellow Lola with her two braids between her Daddies holding their hands. Surrounding them in a circle of love and family everyone important was represented from Adam, Pawpaw, Bobby and Brady in the top corner because they were 'far away', round to Gadreel, Sparrow, Allie who was her best friend in Kindergarten, and her teacher Sister Maria Goretti. Next to a huge smiling Sam was Dean's family complete with a blue and a pink splodge for each twin.
"It's marvelous." Castiel proclaimed.
Lola preened.
"I like your style. You might be a famous artist when you grow up." Dean praised.
Any response was lost in the joyful reception Lola gave her returning Daddies. The picture was waved again. Both Sam and Nick smothered their daughter in kisses and complements before they both made a beeline for the baby tent to look in on Fiona and Jude. Sam caught Dean in a sideways welcome hug, while Nick took Lola to find the perfect spot for her art and to change out of her school uniform.
"Looking good Dean" Sam swept a hand gesturing over Dean's new light summer denims and plain black short sleeved button down.
"Wish I could say the same." Dean ribbed. He raised one eyebrow at Sam's sweater vest.
"Hey I was teaching today. I've got an image to uphold." Sam glared.
"Image? If you want to call it that." Dean huffed a laugh at Sam's indignant bitchface.
Sam nudged his brother's shoulder and gave a short laugh before simply saying "Good."
Dean smiled gently. He understood. A couple of months ago, Sam must have been wishing that Dean was well enough to insult him.
"Hungry?" Nick called from the windows.
"Hurray!" Robbie jumped up.
"Jeepers," Castiel eye rolled, "You would think we never feed him."
"He's a growing boy." Gadreel grinned, ruffling the top of Robbie's hair.
"I'm going to change," Sam commented. "A lot of the food is precooked. Nick prepped the sides this morning. Won't be long serving up."
"You want me to fire up the Barbi?" Dean tried for an Australian accent.
Sam's put-upon headshake told him his impression was a blow out, but Dean ignored him and went to check if the state of the art grill was ready to go.
Just as Nick and Lola came out with the first table settings, Jude woke with a piercing hungry cry.
"I've got it." Castiel called, heading to the kitchen to warm the formula.
"Takes two." Dean preempted his daughter, who was bound to follow Jude's lead.
While the adults made everything ready for a delicious feast, Lola and Robbie ran down to the edge of the waves for a quick paddle in the shallows. They stayed in Gadreel's line of sight. When they came galloping back up the sands, Dean narrowed his eyes at the salt water splash pattern on their clothes but didn't spoil the kids' mood by commenting on their clandestine fun and games. Sam had a towel ready to brush away the sand and salt. While Sam tided the two gigglers up, Dean and Castiel took their twelve week old twins to the bench under the balcony and let them feed to their hearts' content.
"Hey Fee, who's a good girl for Daddy? Drinking like a champ." Dean cooed, cradling his precious girl.
"I think Jude is beating her." Castiel commented dryly.
"Nope. Fee is winning." Dean beamed.
"If she drinks too fast she'll spit up and be disqualified." Castiel said drolly.
Dean tilted the bottle for the last couple of ounces. Fiona mouthed around the nipple. She squirmed. Dean pulled it back and brought his little blonde bombshell up to his shoulder to rub her back. Nosing into her hair, Dean inhaled the wondrous sweet scent of his baby girl.
"Jude wins." Castiel crowed.
"How exactly?" Dean chuckled at Castiel's smiling face.
"He took more."
"Not fair, Cas. It was a speed contest, then a not spitting up contest and now it's a volume competition. Fiona is lodging an appeal with the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. If you want us, we'll be in Switzerland." Dean tossed his head and stood up.
"Switzerland?" Castiel laughed.
"Yes. Commonly known as the baby tent."
"Daddy, you won't fit in the tent." Robbie pointed out.
"At least one member of the Winchester family has some sense." Sam chortled.
"Hey, you're a Winchester." Dean retorted.
"Nope. Papa is an Alighieri like me and Daddy." Lola corrected.
"They are ganging up on me, Cas!" Dean pleaded in a jovial tone.
"I'm sorry we cannot assist. Jude and I have a trophy to collect." Castiel brought Jude, whose dark haired head was dozing on his shoulder. He eased his little son into his carry seat, taking care to move him gently into the shaded tent next to his sister. "Fee's going to drop off any minute too."
Dean hummed. He caught Castiel's arm as they rose, pulling him close enough to kiss with a loud smacking noise.
"Medium rare?" Nick interrupted for steak cooking directions.
With confirmation given, they took their seats at the long picnic table. Dean made sure Robbie had a napkin tucked into the neck of his tee. There were meat patties and sticky skewers of chicken along with the flash cooked thin steaks. Nick's potato salad, bowls of salsa, hummus, and slaw decorated the table too. An ice bucket of beers and another of sodas sat in the center. Dean didn't give a damn if he was setting a bad example for small watching eyes. He chewed open mouthed, made orgasmic noises and smacked his lips around juicy beef. His only worry was if there would be enough room for a chunk of the Bluebell Café's cheesecake.
Conversation was light. Castiel mentioned how if the weather held they were going to The Cove with Inias and Alfie on Monday. Nick and Sam offered Dean and Castiel their copies of The Girl Who Played with Fire, leading to Dean comment that only they would have bought two copies so they could do a synchronized read. Gadreel had been given a budget to purchase a new SUV and asked Dean's opinions on his few preferred models. They were comparing Toyota's Land Cruiser to the latest HUMMER when Sam began to clear away their plates.
"Do you know I'm gonna be a time traveler like The Doctor?" Lola chirped.
"What? No way? What? For Real?" Robbie yelped to Castiel opposite. "Pops, you said it's imp-implo-impossible, and you're a teacher. So there Lolls!"
Nick cleared his throat. "Petal, you know Papa explained that we are travelling by airplane, not by TARDIS."
"But Daddiiieeee," Lola whined, "I'm gonna jump a day. You said so too."
"For real?" Robbie's literal jaw drop had Dean simultaneously grinning and beseeching Sam with his eyes for a Robbie-suitable explanation.
"When you travel around the world," Sam pulled Robbie closer to him on the bench. "It is different time as you go. So when it's daytime here, it's nighttime in India. Way out in the ocean," Sam pointed towards the Pacific, "The day changes to tomorrow. So if you fly really fast in an airplane, say today Friday, you jump into Saturday."
"That's mega weird." Robbie said breathlessly, "Cos they've no Fridays there?"
Nick laughed. "I think the problem of longitude may not be on the Kindergarten age syllabus."
"I don't see why God didn't make it so it is the same time everywhere." Lola pouted. "I don't think it's fair that Australia people get to wake up before we do."
"They have to go to bed before you too." Nick pointed out.
"I'm going to ask Father Gregory, and he can ask God, or the Pope. I'm sure he knows."
Sam hummed and nodded with his lips sucked in. He leaned over Robbie's head to whisper to Dean, "Nick's department. He gets to handle all the awkward religious dilemmas."
Dean huffed a laugh. Castiel had a pen out and was drawing time-zones on his napkin. With a head tilt to alert Sam to look at the scribbles, Dean eye rolled, knowing that tomorrow at home Robbie was going to be privileged to a fun child-friendly explanation, probably with diagrams and a power point presentation, and maybe a model of the solar system.
Lola widened her arms to their full extent, her open palms in front of Nick and Cas. "Cos we're going all the way around the world, I got a passport too, like for Lola Deanna Alighieri, with my picture on it. Can I show Robbie, Papa?"
"Not now, baby. It's in the safe." Sam diverted Lola, "Do you remember where we are going?"
"Yep," Lola straighten her spine to recite the itinerary like a nursery rhyme, "After school finishes we are going to Hawaii, New Zealand, India, Africa, and Europe. And then I gotta visit Uncle Michael, 'cos he wants to meet me even though he is mean to Daddy."
"What?" Nick gasped.
"He's your brother, but he's not like Uncle Dee. He's a mean old guy who makes you get an angry sad face when you talk on the phone and Gad's lip gets all twisty like he ate the sour candies when he says about Uncle Michael."
Gadreel spluttered up his sup of beer, "Does it? I am sorry, Nick, I had strove for a neutral expression."
"It can be difficult to remain expressionless when you have a douche for a boss." Dean commented. "Remember Zachariah-Bag-Of-Dicks at Greengoods."
"Well, technically Michael isn't my employer." Gadreel smirked.
Dean let out a breathy "Ha."
Lola's trust fund employed her security.
"Let's not give small minds big ideas." Nick glared.
"Can I ask about the inclusion of New Zealand on your much extended Summer field research?" Castiel deftly changed the subject.
"Wonderful ecology," Nick said fondly.
Dean coughed, "Hobbits."
Sam hissed, "Jerk" at Dean, before answering. "Nick travelled extensively back in the day but never made it to New Zealand."
"I suppose it's a bucket list item." Nick chuckled. "Once we agreed that round the world tickets would be the best way to plan all the research interviews for Sam's dissertation, there was an option of a stop between Hawaii and India."
"Tolkien." Dean coughed again.
"Seriously, Man." Sam bitch-faced. "I have arranged to meet with the Housetruckers who travel the length of the islands."
"How long will you be in New Zealand?" Dean asked, to check his memory. He shifted slightly on the bench seat to allow Robbie to tuck into his side.
"Ten days." Sam answered. "And don't, Dean. We are going to sightsee. We have only three days in Hawaii. I can't believe I got approval to talk with our navy guys stationed there." He nodded towards Lola, "Once we cross the international date line we head for some research-lite time in New Zealand. Uttar Pradesh is going to be all business too. We are staying with Camille Pompidou from the Sorbonne, who has been among the Dharkar people since 2007."
"Did your professor connect you with her?" Castiel asked.
Sam looked sheepish and shook his head. "Ahem, Facebook."
"What?" Castiel smiled wide.
"Anthropology groups on Facebook. I've been chatting with her since we debated peripatetic versus pastoral nomadic peoples last year." Sam got that glazed look in his eyes heralding an enthusiastic talk about his doctoral research. "She's has such a depth of knowledge on nomadic Indian tribes. We've been messaging each other for months. I can't believe we are actually going to Lucknow to meet her and the Dharkar families she is working with."
Dean grinned. It made something warm bloom in his chest to see Sam so excited about his explorations to add layers of research to his doctorate dissertation on peripatetic families. His brother had taken a few short trips away the previous summer, meeting Inuit families in Alaska, some transient Roma in Oregon, and carneys during their high season. There had been a clown incident somewhere in the Midwest but Sam wasn't talking about it.
The dissertation was tentatively titled Raised on The Road, which gave Dean a smart of heartache every time he heard it. Sam had never known a permanent home until he moved in with Nick. Pushing back any sad thoughts Dean returned to the conversation.
"After India we fly to Gaborone through South Africa." Nick was saying.
"This time George Wyatt did get me my in to visit the San People. Stanford has an exchange program with the University of Botswana." Sam beamed, "We have a few days in a five star game reserve before we fly to Frankfurt."
Nick added, "Sam's going to record the stories of some Gastarbeiter families before following Lola and me to the Alighieri ancestral home in Livorno."
"That's in Italy." Lola clarified for her Uncles Dean and Cas.
"We'll have a weekend in London." Sam continued. "A few days in Ireland, where I am going to interview travelling families, and show Lola the Cliffs of Insanity."
"Inconceivable." Dean muttered.
Sam sniggered, "Buttercup."
"Hey, you are you calling Buttercup, Buttercup?" Dean poked his finger into Sam's firm bicep. "More André The Giant these days."
"Guys, stop with The Princess Bride." Castiel pleaded.
"Just cos you were culturally deprived as a child, Cas." Dean teased.
"Between Cars, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and that movie, I believe I have 'caught up'" Castiel said with added finger quotes.
"Po rocks." Robbie twisted to high five his Daddy, who was firmly of the opinion that the panda was badass.
Dean met Robbie's hand and then scooped him onto his knee. "Back home then, Sam? It's going to be long two months without y'all."
"Yeah, Dean, via DC. Michael will meet us at the Four Seasons." Sam sighed dramatically, "Breaks the journey from Shannon to San Francisco, I suppose."
Nick got up and came over to their side of the table. He squeezed onto the edge of the bench and threw an arm around Sam's shoulders, "Don't let Michele put a damper on the summer. Remember it's only a couple of days and then we'll be home, and you get to spend the next two years writing up your findings."
"Way to make a guy feel better." Sam chuckled, pushing back into Nick's arms.
"I do my best, sweetheart." Nick grinned. "And remember I'll be lucky if anyone recognizes me when I get back to the restaurant. I know Fergus will take the reins but I've never been away for so long."
"Think of all the inspiration you'll get from cuisine of the world." Dean remarked, "Bet they have way out pie fillings in some of those countries."
"It all leads back to pie." Sam chortled.
"And to think, he brought cheesecake today." Castiel quipped in.
"I am a man of many mysteries." Dean snorted.
A few minutes later Dean followed Sam inside to help bring out more drinks. Catching him by the arm beside the antique writing bureau, Dean hissed, "You'll stay safe, won't you Sammy?"
Sam gave him a fond stink eye, "You mean don't get kidnapped by Bushmen?"
"No doofus," Dean growled at the back of his throat, "You know."
He meant everything from crashing planes, to getting lost, to being mugged, getting weird ass illnesses, and being kidnapped by gypsies.
"We'll be fine, Dean." Sam promised. "We might freak out driving on the wrong side of the road, get tummy bugs, or get caught in a rainstorm, but it's all good. And we aren't leaving until the end of June." Sam surprised Dean, pulling him in for a tight hug. "You'll always be my big brother, won't ya?"
Dean flushed with emotion. "Always. Don't you forget it."
As they entered the kitchen, Sam said in a low voice, "Sydney called."
"Uh-huh." Dean nodded.
"Said to tell you they all send their condolences on John's death."
Dean gave Sam a 'seriously' look.
"Yeah," Sam huffed, "I feel that way too. But I promised I pass 'em along."
"Any news of Aaron?" Dean asked, curious as to how his old flame was doing.
"He's good. Sydney said he's got a commission from some hotel under renovation in Cyprus for a large scale piece in their plaza."
"Awesome," Dean was wowed. Aaron was really making it as a sculptor. "Reminds me… Benny's opening a gallery in Salmon Creek, wants me, sorry, has demanded that I give him art."
Sam clapped him on the shoulder. "Way out, Dean. That's amazing. You'll be famous yet."
"Dunno about that, Sammy." Dean said with skepticism but he was pleased with his brother's reaction.
Soon, the day began to cool into early evening. Gadreel headed home taking a slice of cheesecake with him. The rest moved indoors to the family room. The twins needed out of their carry seats. Castiel spread a blanket on the floor for them to roll around and kick their legs. Lola asked Robbie if he wanted to play a game and took him upstairs so they could choose.
Dean whipped out his phone and took a quick snap of Castiel lying on his side as Fiona stretched her arm out towards Jude. Just then Jude began a huge yawn, which Dean caught dead on. He held the phone up for Cas to see.
"Magic." Castiel beamed, "If you tried to get a shot mid-yawn you couldn't do it. That is a brilliant photo. Look Fee's got a cheeky little smile going on too."
"We have to print this one off." Dean agreed, kneeling down to play with Jude's toes.
"Good enough to send to Eudora and Sioux Falls, I'd say." Castiel suggested.
Dean nodded. Bobby and Pawpaw would enjoy that one. He hadn't sent a picture of Fiona and Jude to ACIC yet. This one might do the job. He imagined it gracing their wall of photos, maybe pinned next to the one of Robbie's first birthday where both Dean's and the birthday boy's faces had been smeared with cake. Dean thought he might get several prints.
"Good enough to add to the family collage frame." Dean added.
"What is?" Sam asked.
Dean showed him the picture and watched his overgrown little brother melt. "Get in here, Nick and look at the photo Dean's taken."
Then there were two grown men cooing over the photo and the cute twins. Reality bit back with a particularly stinky diaper attack. Dean smiled at the others as he lifted poor whimpering Fiona and took her to the bathroom to clean her up. When he got back, Castiel handed over Jude, who had a wet diaper, and Dean retraced his steps, affectionately moaning to Jude about double the workload for double the love.
"Your turn on diaper duty next." Dean winked at Castiel as he reunited Jude and Fiona on the blanket. "I'm going to see if Sammy and Nick need a hand tidying up."
"No problem, Darling."
Castiel was offering Jude his finger to pull on when Dean glanced back from the doorway.
Clean up was nearly done. The dishwasher was on the go. Sam had suds up to his elbows at the sink with the rest of the ware. Dean dried and put away. Nick finished wrapping leftovers and parceling some for them to take back to Bodega. Once a pot of drip coffee was brewing Dean returned to the den. Castiel was asleep with his feet kicked out on the La-Z-Boy with Jude snoozing on his chest.
Fiona was awake, happily and loudly sucking her binky, next to Robbie and Lola who were on the floor rolling dice for Chutes and Ladders. Robbie put his finger to his lips and made a hushing noise, while Lola pointed gleefully at Castiel.
Dean mimicked Robbie's shushing pose. He carefully eased onto the seat cushion next to Cas, intent on gingerly removing Jude without waking his husband. He gave a closed mouth sympathetic smile. Tiredness had caught up with Castiel. A full time job and three young kids would do that to a person. Dean admired how perfect Castiel's features were in slumber; his skin smooth with a barely shaded evening shadow, his eyelids looked soft enough for Dean to run the pad of his thumb over them, and his hair was mussed from a day of running his hand through his short locks. A wellspring of gooey cookie dough feels threatened to burst out of his chest.
Dean was happy.
He double blinked, surprised at the revelation.
Happiness was his gorgeous kind loyal understanding husband who stuck with him through thick and thin. It was his pretty fair daughter, his adorable little Jude, and his wonderful mini-Cas Robbie. It was having the luxury to visit his brother and darling niece. It was knowing friends and family were only the touch of his phone away. It was being here a decade on from his worst times, living more awesome a life than he ever could have dreamt. It was being loved so fiercely that a fire burned inside him rising up to return Castiel's affection and adoration in equal measure.
Life was a rollercoaster but today…
Today, it was peachy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++SPNSPNSPN+++++++++++++++++++++++
Last chapter… *sniffle sniffle*…will jump forward in time again. As this story started from Sam's POV so will it end.